Double-walled insulated tank car construction



Jam 21, 1941. J. G. VAN VLET -wALLED INSULATED TANK CAR CONSTRUCTIONDOUBLE 2 Sheets-Sheet l4 Filed Aug. 19, 1939 0 m Q \\N Rw Ns Q A Q; +B l`mN l S. mw m .NWN www D QW mwN n Q u WW mWN mw Q NM1 au Q www. bm, NwNw NQRWQ es. w. www

Jan. 21, 1941. J. G. VAN VLEET DOUBLE-WALLED INSULATED TANK CARCQNSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 19, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mw Wwf/W i @MMM-M@DNVENTOR atcutc'ddan'. 2l, 1941 NITED STATES l DOUBLE-wmp INSULATED TANKcon coNs'rnUoTIoN I James Van Vleet,

Kenmore, N. Y., assigner to The Linde Air Products Company, 4New York,N. Y., a corporation of Ohio Application August 19, 1939, serial N.299,973

s claims. (cl. 19a-3ssl 'This invention relates to a double-walledinsulated tank car ior storing and/or transporting a liquefied gas. suchas liquid oxygen, and more particularly to a construction for liquidbaiiies in the inner cylin-A drical vessel of such tank cars, the spacebetween the vessels being preferably lled with a suitable insulatingpowder and evacuated..

The invention has for its object generally `the provision of an improvedconstruction for liquid A tamos in the inner vessel oi double-walledinsulated tank' cars in o. manner which incorporates strength andimparts stiffness to the wall of the inner vessel, as well as reducingsurging and m, splashing oi the liquid which -is being transported.

other object is to provide a liquid baille cony struction for the liquidcontainers of .vacuum inn sulated tank cars, which is secured in theliquid no container in a manner which braces the cylindrical walls ofsuch containing vessels, and prevents excessive pressure on the endwalls during surges.

Still another object is to it disposition for liquid battles characterindicated which is adapted to control the surging and splashing ofliquid within the containing vessel together wth an arrangement torinsuring both liquid and gaseous equilibrium ao at all times when thetank car is in service.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

rilie invention accordingly comprises the features. of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplined in the construction'hereinaiter set forth and thel scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and .w objects of theinvention, reference should be had to the following detailed descriptiontaken in coection with which:

Fig. i is a view m walled. insulated of a construction for doubletankcars,

section passing through the longitudinal axis of the car), which isadapted for storing and/or transporting liquid oxygen in accordance withto the invention;

ilg. 2 is a fragmentarysectional view showing the construction andposition of the baille' means shown in Fig. 1; and

li'ig. 3 is a sectional view of the inner vessel taken on the line 3-3ol Fig. 1, showing in end construction which is adapted4 provide a shapeand in tank cars of the the accompanying drawings, in

partly in elevation 7 and partly in vertical section (the plane ot theelevation the construction oi the anti-splash baiiles employed in theinner vessel.

Referringnow to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. l and 2, idenotes an external frame, two or more of which may be provided for lsupporting the cylindrical wall oi an inner vessel Il. The vessel Ilalso has end walls and is adapted to hold the liquefied gas that is tobe placed or stored in the tank car either with 01 without the aid of alining or basket (not shown). 10

- Outside of the vessel il and spaced therefrom is a second or' outervessel l2 which is also supported from the frames provided, the :mannerof support being hereinafter more fully explained. The space between thevessels is a closed space and has no communication with the outsideexcept that provided through certain evacuating connections, hereinafterdescribed. The cylindrical wall of the outer vessel l2 is preferablybraced against collapse and to this end is shown 2o provided interorlywith one or more stiffening A gas withdrawal or evaporation'connectionI3 is provided leading from a point at one side of the car frame outsidethe outer vessel to a point within the inner vessel; a similarconnection I3' being provided for the other side. the inner ends ofthese connections being preferably protected by suitable anti-splashbaskets, as shown respectively at 1'30 and l30'. A liquid supply and 30Withdrawal connection I4 is'also provided leading from a point near thebottom of the vessel Il to a suitable external point at one side; asimilar connection i4 being preferably provided and arranged tol leadfrom the same point for the othr'side.` The common outlet opening isprovided with a protected liquid con-trolling means, shown generally atl5. This controlling means when open permits communication with a headerI9 to which the connections Il and -lll' 40 'are attached. The outerendsof these connections when not in use may be protected if desired byremovable plates.V When theend of a connection is open, or the plateremoved. such 'connection maybe coupled to a filling. or dis- 45 chargeconduit, as the case may be, at a filling or consuming plant. i f' Eachof the conn'ections it, i3', I4, and Il is preferably provided, at thepoint where it passes through the wall ol the vessel l2, with a poor 50heart4 conducting seal, for example, a relatively `long corneal Wall, asshown at i6, which may be welded or otherwise integrally attached to'thewall of outer vessel l2. as well as to the connection. The vessel H maybe provided with auXiliary connections, for example, as shown at Ma andMb, for one or more trycocks. Other standard accessories, such as aliquid level gauge, may

also be connected with the vessels.

The inner vessel II is here shown as provided additionally with anemergency liquid with-y drawal connection Il which has a, portion i8depending into the vessel and reaching substantially to the bottom. Froman elbow at the top, the connection leads down, to communicate with ahorizontal passage in the header I 9 which is here shown as a multi-waydevice that has a vertical passage communicating with the controllingmeans I5 and additional horizontal side passages leading to the pair ofoppositely extending connections I 4 and It'.

In tank cars of the character here provided, the inner and outer vesselsare, of course, cylindrically shaped vessels and the frames ID whichsupport the same are each constructed to be relatively narrow structureseach made of one or more plate members with an open and cut-away centralportion shaped to permit the snug passage of the outer vessel I2 throughthe same and its rigid attachment thereto, as by welding or the like.Each frame I0 is mounted on the car frame and disposed at right anglesto the longitudinal axis of the car. The ear frame may, of course, be ofany suitable form, but is here shown as consisting of a center sill thatmay include side sills (not shown), The car frame, as shown, is providedwith theusual bolsters depicted at 2I, to which are pivotally connectedthe car trucks. To provide rm support for the frames I0 on the carframe, a corresponding number of auxiliary bolsters 22 are incorporatedin the frame. 'I'hese may be adjacent to but displaced from the mainholsters. A strengthening plate 23 is preferably interposed, as shown atthe end of the car frame, between a bolster 22 and a frame I 0, asindicated. The strengthening plate 23 thus provided is made fast, byriveting or otherwise, to the sills and bolsters of the car frame.

In order to support the vessel II directly from a frame I and not fromthe surface of the walls of vessel I2, a girth member or sling 2li ispassed about the under side of vessel II adjacent an end of the same,the upper ends of each sling being provided with brackets or lugs asshown at`25. Attached to each bracket is a sustaining rod or cable 2B ofrelatively low thermal conductivity which extends upwardly and outwardlyand is secured at the upper end to the frame I0 in a suitable manner.

In order that the outer vessel l2 may be braced against end thrusts andotherwise aiordll additional support therefor, one or more web members,such as shown at 30, are interposed between the car frame and theoutside wall of the vessel I2 at, suitable points, for example, adjacentthe auxiliary bolster 22. Such web members are conveniently formed bytaking an I-beam and cutting off the bottom ange and then bending overthe web so as to provide an angle-portion that may be bolted to theplate 23 as indicated at 3l, the top flange 32 of the I-.beam beingwelded or otherwise arranged to make imperforate engagement with theouter wall of the vessel I2.

In order that the inner vessel I I may also be braced' against endthrusts and at the same time accommodate expansion and contraction ofthe same, the inner vessel I I is supported at each end from theadjacent end of vessel I2 by tension suspension means. Such means ishere shown as comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed bracketsor lugs 35 disposed circumferentially about and secured by weldingadjacent each end of vessel II. Attached to each of the brackets is atension rod or cable 36 which is anchored in a receptacle 39 in the endwall of vessel I2 Such rod or cable extends generally horizontally butflares outwardly toward the edge of the adjacent end of vessel I2, theouter end of the anchoring receptacle being closed in agas-tight manner,for example, by means of a closure cap 39.

In order that the vessel II may also be braced against side swaying, athird set of supporting and staying means is applied to the innervessel. This third means, as shown in Fig, 1, comprises one or morebrackets i5 made fast by brazing or welding to the end wall of vesselII. From each of the brackets I5 extends downwardly and outwardly a rodor cable 36 which is of a material of relatively low thermalconductivity and has its end anchored in a receptacle B8 in the end wallo vessel I2 and hermetically sealed.

The anchorage for the staying means, above described, may tend to anundesirable concentration of stress at certain points unless suitablestress redistributing means are employed, In the present invention, suchmeans resolve the stresses andil redistribute the same. This is hereaccomplished in connection with the receptacles 39 by means of atruss-like structure on the end wall of vessel I2. As shown, thisstructure comprises a central ring 50 mounted on the end of vessel I2and preferably concentric therewith, from which extend a plurality ofradial members 5I distributed thereabout at points adapted to embracethe sides of each housing 39, the whole being made fast thereto bywelding or brazing. A thrust member, as shown at 52, is alsoadvantageously incorporated in this structure and completes a rigidtriangular frame with the radial members that transmits the stress. Bysuch means thc end bracing takes up and converts the compression stresstransmitted to a cylindrical portion of the outer wall of vessel I2. Thesupporting means above described is no part of the present invention,the same being disclosed in copending applications filed respectively inthe name of O, A. Hansen on August 19, 1939, Serial No. 290,970, and inthe name of G. H. Zenner, et al. on August 19, 1939, Serial No. 290,971,Such suspending means, however, introduces stresses at certain points inthe wall of the inner vessel.

In accordance with the present invention, liquid bailiing means areemployed, preferably in the form of one or more baie plates 60 that aredished, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and disposed at desired intervalsalong the axis of the inner vessel, in order to reduce or eliminatesplashing and surging of the liquid when the tank car is beingtransported, Such baiile plates each have a diameter adapted to t snuglyagainst the inner wall of the vessel Il to which they are securelyattached, as shown in Fig. 3, Each of these baille plates is alsoprovided with one or more openings 6I .it the bottom which pass liquid,and with one or more openings at the top, such asshown at 62, forpassing gas, in order that there may be equilibrium in the gas phase andin the liquid at all times in the several compartments into which thebaie plates divide the vessel I I.

0 The liquid filling and withdrawal controlling 7 means shown is no partof the present invention..

That shown, however, is seen to have an interaaeaosawithdrawal'connection, such as shown at Il and oi the inner and outervessels.

l covers are soft soldered or v being provided' at the it'. The internalvalve is actuated by a valve rod itt passed downwardly through the Wallsof vessel it and vessel Il respectively, a handwheel 15| top of the rodin order to udord manipulation of the valve member from a convenientpoint outside the vessel l2. Means are provided for eiecting passage ofthe valve rod its in a gas-tight manner without in any way interferingwith the hermetic seal of the space between the walls of vessels Il andl2, To this end, an external packing gland |55 is shown about the valverod at the top of vessel l2, which packing gland is disposed in a dome|56 that has a flange sealed in a suitable ring or collar |51, thelatter being welded in the opening provided in the top oi vessel i2. Anexpansible bellows |158 extends from the base of the packing gland l55to the top oi a second dome liB sealed in the wall of the inner vesselin substantially the same manner as the dome Ill-ib.

ll'he outer vessel l2 has one or more openings serving as manholes andthrough which access is had roi' the purpose of disposing a nlling'oi asubstantially dry heat insulating material in comminuted form in thespace between the walls One such manhole is shown at Mid in the top walloi the outer vessel. Another is shown at Hil near the bottom oi the endwall of vessel l2. Such manhole brazed in place in order that the spacebetween the inner and outer vessels may at all times be hermeticallysealed.

'lhe hermetically sealed space between vessels il and it here providedis evacuated when the tanlr car is in service, this evacuation beingconveniently accomplished by providing a connection in the wall oi theouter vessel through which a vacuum pulling means may be connected tothe space between the walls. Any suitable vacuum pulling means for thispurpose may be employed, 'lor example, a mechanical vacuum pump, whichis preferably applied until a vacuum ot the order or 0.2i mm. of mercuryis pulled.. rlihe :insulating material which nils the intervening spaceand the order or the vacuum pulled are no part or the present invention,the same being disclosed in copending application illed December 7,i939, in the name oi la. ll. Dana, Serial No. 307,945.

ln operation, the tanlr car oi the present invention is filled withliquefied gas at a production plant by connecting a connection at ld toa suit-n able source, such as a storage tanlr containing liquid oxygen,and a iilling of liquid lorced into the vessel il by means oi pressureprovided in any lrnown manner. lis the vessel il is filled, gas isdisplaced trom the vessel through the connections id or it'. When liquidcan be withdrawn through the proper' trycoch connection, such as that atidd, it is known that the vessel il is properly filled, and the iilledtanlr car is then moved from the source oi supply to a consumerinstallation for the delivery of a charge ci liquid onygen thereto.

ln transit, it is seen that the inner and outer vessels are bracedagainst end thrusts and side swaying. Also, it is seen that the bailleplates bd operate to divide the liquid charge into a plu-'- rality otsmall bodies that are in huid communication at the bottom so that whenin equilibrium all will be atl the saine liquid level in vessel il.These plates, by reason of their being dished have relatively greatstrength and operate to brealr up any longitudinal rush or liquid in thetion thereto, a plurality vessel and hence reduce surging and splashingof the liquid which might otherwise result in substantial loss orliquid. The plates 60 are at the same time seen to stifien the wall ofvessel I I.

When it is desired to withdraw liquid from the vessel il, the handwheeli541 is normally manipulated and the valve at l5 opened and liquidpermitted to pass out under the inuence of gravity through eitherconnection i4 or il'. In the event that the valve should fail' to open,then pressure is generated in the vessel li by closing the gasconnections i3 and i3. When sufficient pressure has been built up thegas forces liquid up the connection I8 until it passes the elbow, willnow freely through the connection i8 into the header Il!! and thencedelivered through either connection I4 or it. `Relatively largequantities of liquid oxygen may thus be sately shipped to and deliveredat the consumer installation.

Since certain changes may be made in the above Iconstruction anddifferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departingtrom the scope thereoi, it is intended that all matter contained intheabove description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent combination with an inner cylindrical vessel havingend w Vlls and adapted for holding a liquened gas, or an outercylindrical vessel having end walls surrounding and spaced from saidinner vessel in a manner such that a closed space intervenes, a cartrame ior carrying said vessels, supporting trames disposed on said cartrarne at desired points and separately connected with each or saidvessels, tension suspension means in said space connecting each end oisaid inner vessel to the adjacent end wall oi said outer vessel wherebystresses are produced in the cylindrical wall or said inner vessel atthe point oi connestion thereto, a plurality or transversely verticalbattle plates disposed snugly in and securely attached to the inner wallor said inner vessel in a manner reacting against said stresses andimparting strength thereby permitting a-reduction in the ordinary olsaid inner vessel, in said bane plates passages therein,

` 2. ln double-walled insulated tanlr cars, the combination with aninnerI cylindrical vessel hav-u ing end walls and adapted for holding allquened gas, oi an outer cylindrical vessel having end wallssurrounding and spaced from said inner vessel in a manner such that aclosed space intervenes, a car supporting trames disposed on said car:trame at and communicating means comprising upper and lower thiclmessoi thev cylindrical wall trarne :tor carrying said vessels,

where liquid s: l. ln double-walled insulated tanlr cars, the

desired points and separately connected with each ol said vessels,tension suspension means in said .space connecting each end ot saidinner vessel to the adjacent end wall or said outer vessel wherebystresses are produced in the cylindrical wall-or inner vessel at thepoint or connecol substantially trans-4 versely vertical dish-shapedbade plates having dangers ntted against and securely attached to theinner wall of said inner vessel, at least certain ol' said blame platesbeing substantially at the points oi said localised stresses andimparting resistance to stress to the wall ol said inner vessel,

and communicating means for said baffle plates comprising upper andlower passages therein.

3. In double-walled insulated tank cars, the combination with an innercylindrical vessel having end walls and adapted for holding a liqueedgas, of an outer cylindrical vessel having end walls surrounding andspaced from said inner vessel in a manner such that a closed spaceintervenes, a car frame for carrying said Vessels, supporting framesdisposed on said car frame at desired points and separately connectedwith each of said vessels, tension suspension means in said spaceconnecting each end of said inner vessel to the adjacent end wall ofsaid outer vessel whereby stresses are produced in the cylindrical wallof said inner vessel at the point of connection thereto, a plurality ofsubstantially transversely vertical dished baflie plates in equalnumbers and symmetrically disposed in each end of said inner vessel,each of said baie plates having anges tting snugly against and. securelyattached to the inner wall of said inner vessel, at least certain ofsaid baiile plates being substantially at the points of said localizedstresses and imparting resistance to stress to the Wall of said innervessel, and communicating means for said baille plates comprising upperand lower openings therein.

JAMES G. VAN VLEET.

